Domino carrying case, gameboard and game piece turning and shuffling device

Abstract

A pair of closely spaced juxtaposed first and second panels including relatively straight and parallel corresponding marginal edge portions are provided. An elongated narrow strip panel extends longitudinally along, transversely between and joined to the parallel marginal edge portions of the first and second panels by integral "living" hinges. Marginal walls or curbs are supported from one of the first and second panels and extend between the latter. The spacing between the first and second panels is slightly greater than the thickness of a domino game piece and the panels are swingable to positions coextensive with the narrow strip panel.

What is claimed as new is as follows: 
     
       1. A game piece carrying case, gameboard and game piece turning and shuffling device including a pair of large plan area first and second parallel panels disposed in closely spaced juxtapositions and including one pair of generally straight and parallel corresponding marginal edges, an elongated narrow strip panel extending longitudinally along and transversely between said edges and including opposite side longitudinal edges to which said marginal edges are hingedly anchored for swinging of said first and second panels from said juxtapositions to positions coextensive with said strip panel, at least one of said large plan area panels including peripheral curb means extending outwardly therefrom toward the other large panel substantially throughout the peripheral portions thereof exclusive of said one pair of corresponding marginal edges, a plurality of opposite front and rear face equipped game playing pieces loosely receivable in face-down positions between said panels when the latter are in said juxtapositions, the thickness of said pieces, measured between said faces, being the minor dimensions of said pieces and only slightly less than the spacing between said panels, whereby the spacing between said panels is insufficient to allow random turning of said pieces from one face-down position to the opposite face-down positions, said pieces being freely slidable from positions disposed on one said large plan area panel, across said strip panel and onto the other large plan area panel when said large plan area panels are coextensive with said strip panel, said curb means functioning to establish a minimum spaced parallel relationship between said large cross-sectional area panels and to prevent movement of said playing pieces outwardly of said peripheral portions from between said large plan area panels. 
     
     
       2. The device of claim 1 wherein said peripheral portions of said one large plan area panel include rows of outstanding pins supported therefrom spaced inwardly from the corresponding curb means and between which rows of pins and corresponding curb means said game pieces may be snugly received. 
     
     
       3. The device of claim 2 wherein the effective length of said pins is less than the spacing between said large planning area panels when the latter are in said juxtapositions. 
     
     
       4. The device of claim 2 wherein the inner sides of curb means include thin resilient strips extending therealong between said curb means and said rows of pins. 
     
     
       5. The device of claim 1 including outstanding handle means carried by one said curb means. 
     
     
       6. The device of claim 1 including coacting latch means carried by said large plan area panels operative to releasably retain said panels in said juxtapositions. 
     
     
       7. The device of claim 1 wherein said peripheral portions of said one large plan area panel include rows of outstanding pins supported therefrom spaced inwardly from the corresponding curb means and between which rows of pins and corresponding curb means said game pieces may be snugly received, said pins being spaced along said rows on centerpoints spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the length of said game pieces. 
     
     
       8. The method of turning domino game pieces to random face-down positions on a first horizontal game panel from face-up positions on said panel preparatory to game participants selecting their game pieces to be played in a subsequent domino game "hand", said method including: A. providing a second panel having one marginal edge thereof hinged to a corresponding marginal edge of said first panel through the utilization of an intermediate elongated narrow strip panel extending longitudinally along and disposed between said one and corresponding marginal edges and with said one and corresponding marginal edges of said game panel and second panel supported from the opposite side longitudinal edges of said strip panel for relative swinging of said game and second panels between parallel juxtapositions spaced from each other approximately the width of said strip panel between said opposite side longitudinal edges thereof and second positions generally coextensive with said strip panel;   B. sliding said face-up game pieces from said first game panel, across said strip panel and onto said second panel when said panels are in said generally coextensive positions;   C. swinging said first panel toward a position over said second panel with said panels in said juxtapositions and said second panel lowermost;   D. horizontally shaking said panels in unison while maintaining said pieces within the peripheral confines of said first and second panels to "random" mix said pieces;   E. simultaneously inverting said first and second panels, in unison to positions with said first and second panels remaining in said juxtapositions and while maintaining said pieces within the peripheral confines of said first and second panels; and   F. relatively swinging said second panel to a position with said first and second panels coextensive with said strip panel and while maintaining said first panel substantially horizontal.   
     
     
       9. The method of turning domino game pieces to random face-down positions on a first horizontal game panel from face-up position on said game panel preparatory to game participants selecting their game pieces to be played in a subsequent domino game "hand", said method including: A. providing a second panel having one marginal edge thereof hinged to a corresponding marginal edge of said panel through the utilization of an intermediate elongated narrow strip panel extending longitudinally along and transversely between said first and second panels and with the corresponding marginal edges of said first and second panels hingedly supported from the opposite side longitudinal edges of said strip panel for relative swinging of said first and second panels between parallel juxtapositions spaced from each other approximately the width of said strip panel between the opposite side longitudinal edges thereof and second positions generally coextensive with said strip panel;   B. sliding said face-up game pieces from said first panel, across said strip panel and onto said second panel when said first and second panels are coextensive with said strip panel;   C. swinging said first panel toward a position over said second panel with said panels in said juxtapositions and said second panel lowermost;   D. simultaneously inverting said first and second panels, in unison, to positions with said panels remaining in said juxtapositions and with said first panel lowermost and while maintaining said game pieces within the peripheral confines of said first and second panels;   E. horizontally shaking said panels, in unison, while maintaining said pieces within the peripheral confines of said first and second panels to "random mix" said pieces; and   F. relatively swinging said second panel to a position coextensive with said first panel and strip panel while maintaining said first panel substantially horizontal.